November 1996
Precious brothers and sisters,
Hallelujah! We have just returned from a glorious meeting with Operation Rescue leaders from all across the country. We met in Albemarle, North Carolina a few days after the presidential election and received a fresh wind of Almighty God from His Word. We are beginning (only beginning) to understand the times and know what God would have us do.
March 3, 1997 marks the beginning of a new offensive strategy to allow theology to become biography in the streets of our cities. There was great excitement in the air as we discussed this new strategy and saw, through the grid of God's Scripture, what He was calling us to do. We are well aware that there are organizations doing political, judicial and educational work better than we. Praise God! But we are equally aware that God has a specific purpose for us in this Gospel battle for the soul of our nation.
WE ARE THE WHEELS
We are the "wheels" that bring the Church of Jesus Christ to the very gates of hell. No one can do this better than us! This is our task, our assignment from heaven. We need not strive to be the steering wheel or the gas peddle for we are wheels. Operation Rescue is the vehicle God is using to move His Church to the "gates" where His enemy the devil is contending and vying for control of His planet.
Now, we are promised that the "gates of hell" cannot prevail against the church of the Living God. It is no contest really. Though our heel be bruised, we will crush the head of this enemy (Rom 16:20). The task of Operation Rescue is to move the Church from the church house to the "gates" where the battle is being fought. Once we are there, God Himself shows up in the person of His people. It is He who brings the victory!
THE BIBLE READING SCHEDULE
Enclosed you will find your new Bible Reading Schedule for 1997. It is our gift to you. The greatest gift one could give back to Almighty God after receiving His Son as Savior is to be in His Word daily. The one offensive weapon we have and the only one we need is the sharp, double edged sword of the Spirit. This is the Word of God! Don't show up at the "gates" without it!
"Martyrs have given their lives that we might have this precious book in our hands. Kings have feared this book, knowing it had the power to change hearts and lives. Yet, today, we who have the Scripture readily available neither treasure it nor even seek to know the fullest extent of its power. We have been deceived into believing it is simply a book of devotion and doctrine and we do not recognize its power to change the character of a people and the character of a nation." Glen A. Jaspers, Pilgrim Institute
CHARACTER MATTERS TO GOD
We will never be more powerful in our public ministry than we are in our times alone with Almighty God. It is in the quiet places where He speaks to us His plan and shows us His way. "You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart." Jer 29:13
The Gospel battle is not won from the top down but from the bottom up. It is not in electing great government officials to fight our battles for us that we win. It is winning the far greater battle within ourselves that enables us to be a light in the world. The battle our Lord has called us to fight will not be won from the outside in but from inside out. "No Republic is stronger than the character of its people. As the character of the individual weakens, the character of the civil government reflects that eroded character." Our present day government is simply a reflection of the heart of our people. But don't be discouraged. When the heart of the people is changed we will see it reflected in the character of the government officials we elect.
GREAT NEWS
The good news is, the heart of our nation is changing! Rejoice in these statistics given to us by Charlie Wysong of the American Life Coalition:
AL +2.3% AK - AZ -18.7 AR -5.2% CA -14.9% CO -35% CT -17.5% DE -19.1% FL -0% GA -9.4% HI -4.3% ID -61.3% IL - IN -17.6% IA - KS -3.6% KY -22.4% LA -33% ME -30.8% MD -36.8% MA -27.4% MI -32.7% MN -26.3% MS -51.4% MO -42.2% MT - NE -16.1% NV -13.5% NH - NJ - NM -14.8% NY -2.7% NC -15.3% ND -54% OH - OK - OR -14.9% PA -22.1% RI -21.7% SC -29.3% SD -41.7% TN -28% TX -3.6% UT -36% VT -33.9% VA -22.1% WA -14.9% WV -8.0% WI -38.4% WY - According to information published from the American Rights Coalition, Inc. The figures represent a comparison to the state's peak year in the number of abortions reported, generally 1994.
GOING TO THE GATES
Simple Christians bringing Almighty God to the very "gates of hell" are having a startling effect on the enemy who has come to rob, kill, and destroy. This should not surprise us. God has made it clear throughout Scripture what will happen when we go to the "gates." "They will not be put to shame when they contend with their enemies at the gate." Ps 127:5
David Wilkerson brought the Church of Jesus Christ to the very gates of hell in downtown New York City - Times Square. The once glorious Times Square had become a filthy porn parade filled with drugs, thieves, prostitution, and despair. That was almost fifteen years ago. Today, the crime rate in New York City has dropped 30%. Mayor Juiliani has no explanation nor does the New York Police Department. Interestingly, the precinct where crime has fallen the most is right around 54th street and Broadway. This is precisely the place where David Wilkerson's Times Square Church is located. You be the judge!
When the Church of Jesus Christ is brought to the gates of hell, those gates have to back up. Hallelujah! Through pastor Wilkerson's church drug addicts are being saved, alcoholics are being saved, thieves are being saved, and God is receiving glory. Those who once shook their fists at God are now lifting their hands in praise to Him. They are bringing their friends to Jesus and He is saving them too. No wonder the devil is filled with fury -- his time is short!
When the Church of Jesus Christ was brought to the gates in Wichita in the summer of 1991 (Summer of Mercy), the crime rate dropped dramatically. When the Church of Jesus Christ was brought to the gates in Baton Rouge in the summer of 1992, the crime rate dropped dramatically and there were no murders for the entire month of July. When the Church of Jesus Christ was brought to the gates in New Orleans during Holy Week 1995, the murder rate dropped 50% in the month of April and 17% for the entire year.
We are learning some things about the battle we fight and the diabolical liar we are contending with. We win when we run toward him with the sharp double edged sword of the Spirit, in the Name of Jesus Christ. We must take to the offense and run to the "gates".
"Lift up your heads, O you gates; be lifted up, you ancient doors, that the King of Glory may come in. Who is the King of Glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle. Lift up your heads, O you gates; lift them up, you ancient doors, that the King of Glory may come in. Who is the King of Glory? The Lord Almighty - He is the King of Glory." Ps 24:7-10
Eva Edl shared with us that this scripture is a command from God, not a suggestion. The "gates" must be lifted up when the King of Glory comes knocking. They have no choice in the matter.
THE FIGHT OF THE DECADE
On November 9, 1996, at the MGM Grand Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada, at approximately 12:00 A.M. EST, Evander Holifield went to the "gates" of the most hedonistic, plastic, depraved city in our nation. He went with the Gospel of Jesus Christ on his lips to take on a giant who had terrorized everyone in his path.
Evander Holifield, the washed up 34 year old boxer, entered the ring that evening to chorus's of Christian music with Philippians 4:13 written on his robe. Mike Tyson, convicted rapist and the Heavy Weight Champion of the World, entered the ring to chorus's of "gangster rap" sporting two new tattoos (one, a picture of Mao Tse Tung and the other the words "Holy Grace") on his arm.
The stage was set. No one, including good friend Pat Robertson, gave Evander a chance at winning this match. We were all praying for his survival. But God had spoken to Evander. Evander Holifield knew something that no one else did - including Mike Tyson. Our God seeks to make Himself known.
The battle began and Evander Holifield won every round except the fourth. Mike Tyson was knocked out in the eleventh round by a washed up "has been" who had simply taken Jesus at His Word. In the post fight interview, Evander praised the Lord Jesus Christ in one of the most profound witnesses ever given by a sporting figure. Furdy Pachenko tried his best to get Evander to talk about something other than Jesus but to no avail. Evander Holifield said that this match was not about boxing but about who is Lord.
The "gates" were lifted up in Las Vegas and the King of Glory entered in through the person of Evander Holifield. He overcame the giant by "the blood of the lamb, by the word of his testimony, not loving his own life so much as to shrink from death." What a glorious day to see the King of Kings lifted up at center ring in the MGM Grand. What a "living parable" Evander has become to all of us who are fighting the good fight. When we go to the "gates" in the Name of Jesus they will be lifted up so that the King of Glory may enter in.
We are going to the "gates" brothers and sisters but we aren't going alone. We are bringing the Church of Jesus Christ with us, so that the King of Glory may enter in. This is our task! This is our assignment!
It is my prayer that you will join with us and together, with hundreds of brothers and sisters across the nation, we will bring the Gospel of Christ to "gates" long ago vacated by the Church of Jesus Christ. The kick off will be March 3, 1997. Each of us will be taking responsibility for our own city. We will be moving from a defensive, safety-net type strategy at abortion mills to a more offensive posture. We will never desert our post at abortion mills but we will now be taking back the land our common enemy has stolen.
THE ENEMY WILL BRUISE OUR HEAL -- PRAY!
Thirty of our Lord's gentle warriors (22 men and 8 women, including 5 pastors) who took the Gospel to the "gates of hell" in Buffalo, New York during the Spring of Mercy are scheduled to serve outrageous sentences. Not a criminal in Buffalo would be given these kinds of sentences for the same crime. They were issued by pro-abort judge Bestry who has since been voted out of office due to the hard work of the pro-life community in Buffalo. Hot Line # (716) 834-1312
In Christian love,
Flip
UPCOMING EVENTS:
January 17-22 -- PRESIDENTIAL INAUGURATION, ROE MEMORIAL (Contact Pat Mahoney 540-373-8099)
March 3-? -- TAKING THE BATTLE TO THE GATES (Contact OR Office)
March 27-30 -- HOLY WEEK (Cities to be announced)
July 13-19 -- NATIONAL EVENT (City to be announced)